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From festive specials of much-loved shows to new dramas and family-friendly viewing, the BBC has got Christmas covered
Rachel McGrathTuesday 25 November 2025 00:01 GMTComments
open image in gallery‘The Night Manager’ will at last be returning (BBC)
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The BBC has unveiled its Christmas TV line-up for 2025 and there’s a whole host of festive programming to keep us entertained.
From brand new shows to festive editions of much-loved favourites, there’s something for everyone on the BBC channels and iPlayer this Christmas and New Year.
The biggest highlights include the return of the classic edition of The Traitors. While the exact airdate is yet to be confirmed, the show’s famous castle is expected to open its doors again in the first week of 2026.
For Traitors fans wanting more, the BBC will also air The Traitors at the Proms – fronted by Winkleman – and Celebrity Traitors champion Alan Carr and his BFF Amanda Holden will be bringing a much-needed dose of sunshine in Amanda and Alan’s Spanish Christmas.
Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman will deliver the drama as they return in a long-overdue second series of The Night Manager, and a brand new documentary from Sir David Attenborough will see the renowned natural historian focus on wildlife closer to home in Wild London.
open image in galleryTom Hiddleston in 'The Night Manager' season 2 (BBC)After the success of its first series earlier this year, Motherland spin-off Amandaland will be getting its first Christmas special, which will see Jennifer Saunders reunite with Joanna Lumley as the pair play on-screen sisters.
Diane Morgan will be bringing the laughs in The Mandy Who Knew Too Much, which will see Mandy have what is being billed as “one of the worst Christmases ever”. Two Doors Down and Here We Go will also be getting the festive treatment, with the latter featuring “a typically chaotic Jessop family holiday, featuring a road trip, a missing dummy, and a large crate of unlicensed fireworks”. And, love it or hate it, two new episodes of Mrs Brown’s Boys will debut.
There’ll be the usual festive visits to Poplar – in a two-part Call the Midwife special – and Albert Square, as EastEnders sees the residents of E20 visited by the ghosts of the past and villains of the present, before a flash-forward to the future.
Elsewhere, the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas episode is especially significant this year, as it’ll mark Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s final time in the ballroom. Ex-Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt and former All Saints singer Melanie Blatt are among the famous faces who have been confirmed as taking part.
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open image in galleryThe longtime hosts of ‘Strictly’ will be bowing out (BBC/Ray Burmiston)Other gutsy celebrities will be taking on an entirely different physical challenge in the Gladiators Christmas special. Who will triumph as the nation’s PE teacher Joe Wicks goes against Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson, and Olympic boxer Nicola Adams faces off against podcaster Vogue Williams?
If you’d rather tune in to see famous faces doing something less strenuous, then Dame Helen Mirren, Julia Donaldson and Rob Brydon will be stopping by The Repair Shop with some extra special items of their own that need some care and attention. Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse will also be back for another Gone Christmas Fishing.
Stress levels will be running high and there’ll be firings aplenty as 12 famous faces head into the boardroom for two The Celebrity Apprentice specials in aid of BBC Children in Need. Those taking part include ex-EastEnders actor Jake Wood, I’m a Celebrity campmate Eddie Kadi, Miranda funnywoman Sarah Hadland and someone who has already been sacked by Lord Alan Sugar – Tom “Bosh” Skinner.
open image in galleryThe 'Celebrity Apprentice' line-up (CREDIT LINE:BBC/Naked/Matt Crossick/Ray Burmiston)Other festive specials include (deep breath): Beyond Paradise and Death in Paradise, Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel, The Weakest Link, University Challenge, Inside the Factory, Celebrity Escape to the Country and Morning Live at Christmas.
Top of The Pops: Review of The Year 2025 will return for its yearly special, hosted by Clara Amfo.
There’s plenty for the whole family to watch together too, including a brand new animated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved picture book The Scarecrows’ Wedding. The all-star voice cast includes Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley, Gavin & Stacey star Brydon and The Paper’s Domhnall Gleeson. Sophie Okonedo, of Slow Horses fame, is on narration duties.
open image in galleryLumley is back in ‘Amandaland’ (CREDIT LINE:BBC/Merman)Guz Khan’s Christmas caper Stuffed is another one for the kids to enjoy. The 60-minute comedy will see a multi-faith family set off for a trip to remember as they swap Coventry for Lapland.
When it comes to New Year’s Eve, there are a few options: Jools Holland will, of course, be back with another Annual Hootenanny and the BBC is also airing a Ronan Keating & Friends: New Year’s Eve Party and a special edition of The Graham Norton Show.
Kate Phillips, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, said: “We’ve got so many terrific treats on the BBC this Christmas. There really is something for everyone as we light up living rooms across the UK with a multitude of magical moments. From specials of much-loved programmes, to new gifts across genres, the BBC is the place to be.”
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